House



(No Model.)

A. G. WATERHOUSE.

ELEGTRIG LAMP; No. 253,327. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

ATTEST! INVENTOFH mm w fiaMmgmmm 62mm Mr.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE, OF NEIV YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATESELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,327, dated February7, 1882,

Application filed October 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDIsoN G. WATER- HOUSE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident at New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to thedrawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

My present invention is applicable generally to electric lamps in whichthe feeding together and adjustment of the carbons are efi'ected throughthe instrumentality of a griping device, usually styled a clutch, whichis controlled as to position by the attraction of one or moreelectro-magncts, and caused to bind or release a suitable rod or tube,constituting an electrode supporter or carrier. The successful andcontinuous operation of these lamps requires that the perforated plateordinarily employed as the clutch should be capable, when tilted, ofbinding the carbon-holder with a firm hold, and for this reason theinner edges, or those around the perforation, should be sharp 2 5 andeven. From constant friction, however,

and the occasional formation of a small are between the clutch and thecarbon-holder, the formeris frequently rendered useless, requiringreplacement-a matter which in the lamps now in use entails no littledifficulty and expense. This it is the design of my invention to obviateby forming the clutch or clamp of a number of superposed annular orperforated plates loosely surrounding {the carbon-carrier, and 5 eachcapable, when tilted, of griping and raising it. The increased number ofbinding-surfaces thus presented to the rod reduces to a great extent thepossibility of the clutch becoming worn out, either by friction orburning.

In the drawings hereto annexed I have illustrated a portion of anelectric lamp embodying my invention in Figure 1, and the various shapesthat may be given to the plates comprising my improved form of clutch inFig.2.

R designates an ordinary carbon-carrier, consisting of a smooth rod ortube of metal passing down through the upper part of the lamp-frame.

G is a plate or bar, through an opening in which the said rod R passes.One end of plate C rests upon the upper surface of the plate F, thisbeing a portion of the upper yoke or crossbar, and consequently astationary portion of the lamp-frame. The other end of plate 0 isconnected by a link to the core of a magnet, M. 5 5 The letter Wdesignates a number of plates provided with perforations of suchdiameter as to bind or clamp the rod It when the plates arev tilted, butto permit it to drop through when they are brought in a position atright angles thereto. The plates W are swung on the rod It, and lieloosely upon the plate 0 and upon one another.

The operation of the lamp is substantially the same as that of theordinary forms, with 6 5 the exception that a greater number ofbindingsurfaces are brought into contact with the rod R, the delicacy ofaction not being afi'ected. The number of plates composing the clutch issomewhatarbitrary. It will be advisable, however, to employ, underordinary circumstances, at least four or five, and more may be used, ifso desired.

The plates WV may be of various shapes, anumber of which are shown inFig. 2 and lettered respectively W W 850. They may be left free to turnabout the rod R, but are preferably prevented from so doing by arrangingupright pins on the bar O and employing square or angular plates, or bycutting notches in any form of plate for the pins, as is shown at W W Bythese means the plates composing the clutch are allowed a sufficientmotion for effecting the results desired, while at the same time theyare precluded from turning about the rod.

It is evident from the nature of the abovedesc'ribed invention that itmay be applied to a great variety of lamps with equally satisfactoryresults. I have not described the various applications, nor the specificcharacter of the 0 lamps with which it may be used, as a knowledge ofthe said lamps, with their principle of operation and construction, ispresupposed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an electriclamp, aclamp or clutch composed of two or more superposed perforatedrod, and mechanism formoving the plates, as plates surrounding thecarbon-carrier, and and for the purpose set forth. [0 adapted to gripeand move the same, substan- In testimony whereof I have hereunto settially as described. my hand this 1st day of October, 1881.

2. The combination, in an eleetriclamp, with ADDISON Gr. VVATERHOUSE. arod or tube constituting the carbon-carrier, Witnesses: of a clutchcomposed of two or more super- PARKER V. PAGE, posed perforated platessurrounding the said XV. FRISBY.

